Kathmandu, September 4
Around four years after signing the controversial Millennium Challenge Corporation agreement with the United States government, the government of Nepal wrote to the MCC programme in Washington, DC, asking it to clarify some confusion.
The Ministry of Finance wrote to the US Embassy in Kathmandu yesterday, asking it to clarify if it was a part of the Indo-Pacific Strategy, and if it was connected with the American defence policy, a ministry official says.
“We have also sought clarification on if the agreement falls under the Nepali law.”
The embassy also confirmed the receipt of a letter regarding the issue. “This is a positive step towards ratifying the compact and shows MCC’s consistent willingness to have an open and transparent dialogue with the Nepali people regarding the infrastructure programme,” an embassy official informs.
The communication has been made just days before the scheduled visit of MCC Vice-President Fatema Z Sumar to Kathmandu. Sumar is expected to hold high-level political meetings with Nepali leaders including Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.
